Collapse models: from theoretical foundations to experimental verifications

Abstract

The basic strategy underlying models of spontaneous wave function collapse (collapse models) is to modify the Schroedinger equation by including nonlinear stochastic terms, which tend to localize wave functions in space in a dynamical manner. These terms have negligible effects on microscopic systems-therefore their quantum behaviour is practically preserved. On the other end, since the strength of these new terms scales with the mass of the system, they become dominant at the macroscopic level, making sure that wave functions of macro-objects are always well-localized in space. We will review these basic features. By changing the dynamics of quantum systems, collapse models make predictions, which are different from standard quantum mechanical predictions. Although they are difficult to detect, we discuss the most relevant scenarios, where such deviations can be observed

10 Pages. Invited Talk at the Heinz von Foerster Centenary International Conference on Self-Organization and Emergence: Emergent Quantum Mechanics (EmerQuM11). Nov. 10-13, 2011, Vienna, Austria. Proceedings to appear in J. Phys. (Conf. Series)

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• Testing the foundations of quantum physics in space Interferometric and non-interferometric tests with Large Particles
• Distinguishing decoherence from alternative quantum theories by dynamical decoupling
• Open Quantum System Approach to the Gravitational Decoherence of Spin-1/2 Particles
• Dynamical Decoupling and Homogenization of continuous variable systems
• An Optomechanical Platform for Quantum Hypothesis Testing for Collapse Models
• Optomechanics-based quantum estimation theory for collapse models
• Particle mixing and the emergence of classicality: A spontaneous-collapse-model view